SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A Syracuse University film project has earned two New York Regional Emmy nominations, with winners set to be announced Oct. 10.
Watching Monday's 78th Primetime Emmy Awards hand out directing honors was a primer for Syracuse production duo David Tarleton and Adria Dawn, who co-directed the film "Spiral."
"We just received two New York regional Emmy nominations," Dawn said, "one for societal concerns and one for best director, long form post-produced, which we co-directed."
The pair is quick to credit its production team for the recognition.
"Our amazing student crew and student cast and faculty. It's a big SU extravaganza, and we're just really happy for everyone involved," Dawn said.
Tarleton is chair of Syracuse University's Department of Film and Media Arts. Dawn teaches directing and acting at the school. "Spiral" is their 14th film focused on social change, a genre the two explored previously through a series produced in Chicago before they moved to Syracuse in 2025.
"We worked for a little over 10 years on a series called Kids Matter," Dawn said of their work in Chicago. "We did an eight-part series on different topics like gun violence, cyberbullying, peer pressure, addiction, gender identity."
"Spiral," filmed entirely in Syracuse, centers on the mounting social pressures facing young adults.
"We decided to talk about mental health in college and what happens when we follow a girl named Emma, played by the amazing Magdalise Rivera, who's now an alum. We follow her through a series of events where she starts to spiral and have a mental health breakdown," Dawn said.
"So the class itself was film students, acting students from drama and students from Newhouse," Tarleton said. Dawn added, "We had a large student crew, from the film department."
"Adria wrote the screenplay," Tarleton said, "but we developed it in class with the students, who served as the primary cast and crew. We did bring in some people from outside as well."
"Spiral" is the 43rd project Tarleton and Dawn have made together. Winners of the New York Regional Emmy Awards will be announced Oct. 10.
"Spiral" can be seen at a free screening Thursday, Sept. 17, at 2:45 p.m. in Syracuse University's Shemin Auditorium during a celebration of SU's new chancellor and president, Michael Haynie.
